Just finished Pete Grieg’s book God on Mute, which speaks very well on the issue of unanswered prayer. Most poignantly, Pete describes his struggles with unanswered prayer for healing for his wife Samie, who has developed epilepsy. There are a number of reasons why prayers do not always yield the desired results, and yet God asks us to pray, and therein lies the mystery. We walk in faith.
I do love the reference to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They are threatened by King Nebuchanezzar because they will not bow to the golden image he has created. They reply:
“O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18)
They have faith either way, regardless of the outcome, that their God is mighty to save, that he will save them from the king’s hand. This is a good faith to have.
Having finished this book, I am prompted to dig deeper. The book assumes a fervency and clarity of desire (for outcomes of prayer) that doesn’t quite capture my present discontent. I need to press in more. The barenakedness of raw need, pain, and struggle does press us, does prompt us to make decisions. We can move toward God or away from Him. Somehow, in this season, I have distanced myself, buffered myself from this rawness. I cannot pray out of silenced emotions. May God in his grace help me and allow me to press in.
July 13, 2009 at 1:12 am
“I cannot pray out of silenced emotions.” I identify so much with this. I guess it’s just the human predicament. I realise that sometimes God is giving me the opportunity to press in further with Him when times are hard or when I don’t feel like it. I’m afraid I fail often and have to wait for Him to pick me up and pull me. He always does this. But waiting is also faith!